Terra Nova Quest

Dragonlots aka Dana Bell

Chapter 4

Sheba growled. Laura started awake at the noise, rubbing her sore neck. She must have fallen asleep after Barnabas had left. The cat trotted to the edge of the patio, her short tail twitching, and hissed. Concerned by the cat's attitude, she got to her feet and noticed a figure slipping between the houses, heading for her cousin Allen's.

She glanced up the street, thinking she should notify a soldier. Just her luck, none seemed to be patrolling tonight. Sheba slunk down, creeping to the corner, and made a hunting sound deep in her throat. Laura knew the feline wouldn't act like that if it were someone she knew.

"Good girl," she praised, not touching the taught body. To do so put her at risk of being attacked.

Carefully, she looked around the corner and saw the figure lightly rap on the door, before entering. Hmmm, interesting. Maybe her cousin had met a woman and had arranged a late night rendezvous.

"Nothing to worry about, Sheba." She headed back to the house. "Come on."

The sabre cat hissed, tail still moving back and forth.

"If you don't want to come in, then go hunting."

With a flip of her tail the cat vanished into the darkness.

Knowing Sheba would be back when she wanted, Laura went inside. If her cousin was seeing someone, it was none of her business. She should warn him his visitor could get a nasty surprise by sneaking around.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sienna looked so peaceful and innocent in her sleep. Her dark braids spread behind her on the white pillow and she laid there half covered. Mira could see her pink nightgown. Must have be new because she didn't remember her daughter owning one. Quietly, she crossed the room and pulled the blankets up, giving her child a kiss on her forehead.

"Wish I could take you with me," she whispered.

The little girl stirred in her sleep and Mira left, making certain to close the bedroom door.

"You shouldn't be here."

Mira started, half reaching for her gun. "You shouldn't sneak up on me, Allen," she returned, relaxing.

"Outside." He walked out the back door and waited until she joined him to slide it closed. "Why are you here?"

"Making certain you are keeping your promise." They had met in secret when she'd first come back a couple of months ago. Mira had intended to see if he would be willing to supply her with information. Instead, he'd surprised her by letting her know he'd brought her daughter through the portal.**

"She's my daughter too." His gray eyes glared at her. "I told you I'd take of her."

"Good." She didn't feel like telling him she had wanted to see her daughter and make certain Sienna was okay.

"You trusted me once."

"Once," she agreed.

"I tried to help you."

"It was my choice."

"You should have told me about Sienna."

"Maybe." Mira had done what she considered right. "How did you find out?"

"Received a message." He shook his head when she opened her mouth to ask who. "I have no idea. It wasn't signed."

Going back to 2149 would be the only way to find out, and she didn't see that happening anytime soon. "I see."

"No you don't." He turned his head. "Don't move."

A large animal slunk past, snarling at them before vanishing into the thick foliage.

"What is that?" she demanded.

"That's Sheba. My cousin Laura raised the sabre cat."

She frowned. "It shouldn't exist. Only dinosaurs."

"Leakage, according to my cousin."

"Leakage?"

"Things coming through that shouldn't. That's the most I understand."

Maybe she'd share that with Lucas before she left. He'd want to know. "We're going back to the Badlands in the morning."

"That's probably for the best." In the moonlight she could see more lines on his face and his dark hair had more gray than she remembered. "Sienna stays here."

Anger rose up in her. How dare Allen tell her what to do. "What if I disagree?"

"Do you really trust the best army money can buy?"

He had her there. "No."

"Then isn't it best she stay here where you know she's safe?"

"You win. For now." She moved until she stood face to face with him. "I'm going to want my daughter back."

"Then get your life together." He opened the back door. "Be careful leaving. Sheba is night hunter."

"Thanks for the warning." The door slid closed. Rich people. Allen acted like he had the only rights to her child. "I'll be back," she vowed.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Dr. Quest jerked awake, his brown eyes searching the room. A figure moved toward him carrying with it a sweet stench he found both repugnant and felt drawn to.

"Hello, Dr. Quest," a voice greeted. A man appeared in the faint light, short blond/brown hair, his clothes looking tattered and oddly blue green eyes. "You're going to help me."

"Excuse me?" His mind fought to clear itself.

"You're being here isn't a coincidence." The pale lean face smiled. "You have the brilliance to help us reopen the portal."

"What portal?"

"Oh, that's right." He heard the man giggle. "You have no idea what has happened." He felt fingers around his throat and a sharp pain. "You'll agree to help me or I'll deprive your sons of their father," his attacker mumbled as his fingers tightened their grip.

A sharp hiss filled the room and a large body launched itself, knocking the intruder to the floor. He heard the sounds of the struggle and tried to shout out, only to find he couldn't.

"What is going on in here?" The young girl who had been in earlier appeared at the door. "Lucas!"

"I'll get you sister!" he shouted as he ran out, a very large cat in pursuit.

"Dr. Shannon!"

His doctor appeared at his side, checking his wounds. "I need," she listed off several items. Benton fought to breath and dropped off into darkness, not sure if he'd awake again.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Damn it to hell! How did this happen!" Taylor roared when he entered the hospital. Every one turned to face the commander.

"In here, Commander," Dr. Shannon ordered, motioning him into her office.

He turned to Lt. Reynolds. "I want Dr. Quest guarded."

"I'll take care of it personally, sir."

"See that you do." He followed Dr. Shannon into her office, fuming at what had happened. "How if he?"

"Stable. He had some blood loss and we've given him a transfusion."

"His family been notified?"

"I sent Skye for Mr. Bannon."

"Good." He wanted to put his fist through the wall and had to control the urge. "What happened?"

"Skye said it was Lucas, or at least she thinks it was. The attacker had red eyes and the room was dark so she didn't get a clear look."

"Red eyes?" He shook his head. "That's not possible."

"Might have been a dinosaur. Sheba ran it off."

"I'll have to remember to thank Miss Collins." Although why the cat had been roaming free inside the colony at night, he had no idea. He'd have to speak to Laura about that.

Race Bannon appeared at the door. His face expressed his worry. "What happened? Is Dr. Quest all right?"

"He should make a full recovery," Dr. Shannon assured the worried man.

"We're piecing together what happened and I'm posting guards." He turned to the doctor. "When Dr. Quest is able, I want to talk to him."

"I'll let you know."

"Mr. Bannon." He nodded at the man as he left, checking to make certain guards had been posted, which they had.

"Dr. Quest okay?" Jim Shannon asked as he hurried into the hospital.

"He is." He motioned the sheriff outside. "I need you to find out what happened."

"I'll take care of it."

"Talk to Skye first. She thinks it was Lucas."

"Where you going?"

"To have a word with Laura Collins about her cat."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Lucas floundered along, but managed to reach the camp. He stopped at the creek to wash up, most of what happened in Terra Nova a blur. Had he really tried to kill the one man who would be able to help them reopen the portal? He shook his head unsure.

What he did remember was a huge furred animal attacking him, chasing him to the ditch he'd used to get into Terra Nova. It hadn't followed, but the yowls still echoed in his ears. Not to mention his legs stun where it had scratched him.

He washed out the wounds, surprised they hadn't bled as much as he thought they should. With a shrug he dismissed it and returned to his bed. Mira and her people would leave today, leaving him to figure out how to get Dr. Quest to cooperate and help him escape this nightmare jungle and back to 2149.

**see Solutions for the complete story on how Sienna arrived at Terra Nova